Electrically actuated sounding toy



March 2, 1965 M. l. GLASS ETAL 3, 71, 30

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED SOUNDING TOY Filed Feb. 25, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. l. GLASS EIAL ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED SOUNDING TOY mWki' March 2, 1965 Filed Feb. 25, 1963 March 2, 1965 M. GLASS ETAL3,171,230

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED so mumc TOY Filed Feb. 25, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Mam]! 1965 M. l. GLASS ETAL ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED SOUNDING TOY FiledFeb. 25, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 g yawn/as 1/0745,

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ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED SOUNDING TOY Filed Feb. 25, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5me 94 /90 2 a; mg /90 m2 ma me /94 /9a /92 I 70/? I i n/lav 708 41 21.15 x jg? S c a c Zazb United States Patent 3,171,230 ELECTRICALLYACTUATED SGUNDEQG TOY Marvin I. Glass and Gunars Licitis, Chicago, IlL,assignors to Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, Ill., a partnershipFiled Feb. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 260,629 '11 Claims. (Cl. 46-232) Thisinvention relates to a toy and, more particularly, to a self-propelledaction toy and to features thereof.

Various types of self-propelled toys are well known in the trade andoften incorporate action features such as are found in toy army tanksand the like. Remote control of such a toy is simetimes provided. Withthe advent of the space age there has been a general interest in spacecraft and futuristic devices and the present invention is particularlyconcerned with providing a selfpropelled action toy having anextra-terrestrial appearance and action.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a newand amusing toy. A related object is to provide such a toy which isself-propelled and articulated. A further related object is to providesuch a toy which may be remote controlled.

Another object is provision of a new and amusing toy operable forsearching the space about the toy and firing projectiles in a sweepingmanner about the toy. A further object is provision of a new and amusingtoy having the above described features and including ap pendagesoperable in a manner to provide a crawling effect for the toy.

These and other objects of the invention are more particularly set forthin the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, perspective View, with parts removed forclearer illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a still further enlarged, top plan view of the toy, withportions broken away and/or in section to more clearly illustrateparticular portions of the toy.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken generally alongthe line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line55 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 (Sheet 1) is a fragmentary, perspective View of part of anappendage actuating mechanism seen also in FIGURE 3, with a portion ofthe appendage shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 7 (Sheet 4) is a sectional view of a gear train transmissiontaken generally along the line '77 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective perspective view of another geartrain transmission and motor taken generally along the line 88 in FIGURE3;

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the head portion of the device, with partsremoved for clearer illustration;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of the head portion taken generally alongthe line 10-10 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a disc type projectile adapted to befired by the device;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 1212 inFIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 (Sheet 1) is an enlarged sectional view of a noisemakerdevice, taken along the line 1313 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary bottom view of the remote controlunit shown also in FIGURE 1, with parts broken away for clearerillustration;

FIGURE 15 is a view taken generally along the line 1515 in FIGURE 14,with parts broken away for clearer illustration;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of switch bladesshown in FIGURES 14 and 15;

FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 are schematic views illustrating the constructionand operation of the remote control unit; and

FIGURE 20 is a schematic wiring diagram of the remote conrtol system.

The invention is, in brief, directed to a toy, and more particularly, toa self-propelled and remote controlled toy having articulated appendagesoperable in a manner giving a random walking or crawling illusion. Anarticulated head of the toy has a flashing eye, and the head is movablefor searching the space about the toy and firing projectiles in asweeping manner about the toy. Noisemaker means is provided for furtherenhancing a childs interest in the toy, and is combined with thepreviously mentioned features in providing a futuristic mechanicalspider-like toy.

More particularly, and with initial reference to F1"- URE 1, the toyincludes a spider-like object 39 which might exist on another planet.The toy is self-propelled and a remote control device 32 having a cable34 is connected with the toy 39. The toy includes a suitable frame 36(FIGURE 2) mounting a squat, inverted dishshaped body 38. The body maybe secured to the frame in any suitable manner and in the illustratedembodiment is detachably secured to the frame by bolts (not shown)extending through flanges 4% on a peripheral wall of the frame andthreadedly received in boss portions 42 (FIG- URE 4) of the body 38. Arear portion of the body is provided with outwardly flared tubes 44 tosimulate jet or rocket propulsion means, and the remote control cable 34extends through this portion of the body.

Means for supporting the toy on a suitable surface and causing it totraverse a desired path, as straight ahead or to either side, isprovided in the illustrated embodiment in the form of a caster wheel 45%(FIGURE 4) depending from the rear of the frame 36 and a pair of drivingwheels 5% (FIGURES 2-4) on opposite sides of the frame. When the toy isoperatively assembled these wheels are concealed from normal view by thebody 38. With particular reference to FIGURE 3, each wheel is supportedby an independent shaft 52, with each shaft being journalled in aportion of the frame 36 and in an associated housing 54 of atransmission 55, one such housing mounted on either side of the frame.As illustrated, each transmission is associated with a separate sourceof power, here in the form of a reversible electric motor 56, mounted onthe respective transmission housing 54 for driving the associated wheel50 in a forward direction upon operation of the respective motor in afirst or forward direction. Thus, when these motors operate together inthe forward direction the spider-like toy 30 is driven straight ahead,and when one of the motors is inoperative and the other motor isoperating the object turns to the side away from the operating motor.

With reference to FIGURE 7, the transmissions 55 are substantiallyidentical and each includes a gear train having a drive pinion 53mounted on a motor shaft 69 of the respective motor and drivingly meshedwith a gear 61 of a shifting idler cluster including a pinion 62 mountedon a shaft 64 jcurnalled at opposite ends in elongated slots 66 inopposite sides of the transmission housing 54. In order to distinguishthe two motors, the one appearing toward the right in FIGURE 3 isindicated by the numeral 56 and the motor at the left portion of thefigure is 57. Responsive to operation of the respective motor (56, 57)in the forward direction, the motor form of sets of legs, one such seton either side of the end of the slot 66 with the idler cluster pinion62 in meshed driving engagement with an intermediate gear 68 of acluster including a pinion 79 in meshed engagement with a driving gear72 fixedly mounted on the wheel shaft 52. Upon operation of the motor ina second or reversed direction, the motor shaft pinion 53 rotates in areverse direction and positions the idler cluster at the opposite end ofthe slot 66 so that the idler cluster pinion 62 is in meshed drivingengagement with another gear- 74 mounted on a shaft 76, as will be morefully discussed hereinafter. Thus, a reverse drive transmission isprovided. The propelling means is such as to drive the toy 30 at arelatively consistent high rate of speed for a self-propelled toy.

It should be noted that the wheels 50' are in generally vertical planesconverging forwardly of the toy, that is toed inwardly, and should thebody 38 engage a vertical abutment the appropriate wheel will be drivenindependently of the other wheel for freeing the object from theabutment.

Appendage means provides for a crawling illustion as the object 30 movesacross the supporting surface, and herein this means operates at a rateslower than that indicated by the speed of the object across the surfaceso as to give a generally awkward and powerful appearance. Asillustrated the appendage means is in the form of sets of legs, one suchset on either side of the body 38 and mounted on the frame 36. In theillustrated embodiment each set includes three legs 82, each having afoot 84 which depends from the outer peripheral edge of the body 33 inthe normal inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 1 wherein both setsof legs are lowered and generally coplanar with the body 38. Each leg 82has a generally step-shaped upper surface and is independently pivotedon the body 38. More particularly, an open ended cylinder 86 (FIGURE 4)extends upwardly from the center of the body 38 and has a lower doublewall portion defining a continuous downwardly opening notch 88 receivingthe inner end 90 of each leg 82. The inner ends 90 have a generallyarcuate lower edge surface 92 resting on an actuator member 96 (FIGURE6), one actuator member for each set of legs 82. Each actuator member 96is generally U-shaped and has free ends of its legs 98 mounted on theframe 36 for pivotal movement about generally horizontal axis. Moreparticularly, these free ends are each mounted between a pair of lugs,as 100, of the frame 36. As may best be seen in FIGURE 3, the legs ofthese actuator members are partially overlapped. Thus, as an actuatormember 96 pivots upwardly the associated set of legs 82 also pivotupwardly because of engagement of the arcuate surface 2 of each leg 82with a respective lug 102 extending outwardly from the respectiveactuator member 96. It should be noted that a center one of the lugs 102is spaced farther from the actuator pivot axis, so that it movesupwardly a great distance, and, therefore the associated center leg ofeach set of legs moves upwardly a greater amount than the outward legsof the set to provide a more interesting action.

Leg actuating means is provided for causing the sets of legs to move upand down as previously described, and herein this means includes theactuator members 96 and a gear 104 (FIGURES and 6) eccentricallyjournalled on the respective actuator member 96 and drivingly meshedwith a pinion 106 on the wheel shaft 52, so that when the respectiveshaft 52 is rotated the associated actuated member is caused to move upand down. Preferably this gearing on the right and left Wheel shafts,respectively, is arranged out of phase and the operation ofthe motors 56and 5'7 during use of the toy is such that the two sets of legs move upand down in a random, non-uniform manner.

With reference to FIGURE 1, a head assembly 110 is surmounted on thebody 38 and is operable for searching movement about the object 30. Moreparticularly, and with reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, a cylindricalmember, 112 has an, outwardly extending continuous annular flange 114received in notches 116 in diametrically opposed supports 118 and 120,of the frame 36 for rotation of the cylinder 112 about a generallyupright axis. A pair of diametrically opposed arms 122 (FIGURES 2 and 4)extend upwardly from the cylinder 112 and at their upper ends pivotallymount a base 124 of the head so that the base may pivot and tilt about agenerally vertical but slightly inclined axis. Cooperating stop means,in the form of abutment surfaces 126 and 128 on the arms 122 and thebase 124, respectively, are provided for limiting such tilting movementof the head. Means for automatically causing the head to rotate and tiltin this manner is provided by a resilient cable sheath 130 having oneend mounted in a bottom wall 132 of the base for rotation with respectto the base, and having an opposite end mounted in the transmissionhousing 54 located to one side of the upright pivotal axis of thecylinder 112, as shown in FIGURES 8, so that the arching of the sheathbetween its ends cause the head to tilt.

Means for rotating the head 110 is provided in the form of a series ofgear teeth 134 in a bottom edge of the cylinder 112, the teeth 134 beingdrivingly meshed with a pinion 136 on the outer end of the shaft 76 ofthe previously dsclosed transmission shown in FIGURE 7. Thus, when themotor 56, which is drivingly associated with this transmission, operatesin reverse direction, the idler cluster pinion 62 is engagedwith thegear 74 on the shaft 76 thereby rotating the head 110 about a generallyupright axis.

Firing means is provided for firing disc-like projectiles 14% (FIGURES11 and 12). In the illustrated embodiment the projectiles are fired in amanner to sweep about the object 30 when the head 110 is rotating, or tofire in the same general direction when the head- 110 is stationary.Herein this firing means is in the form of a cylindrical magazine 142(FIGURES 2, 4 and 9) extending upwardly from the base 124 of the headfor receiving a stack of the discs and feeding the discs one at a timeto a receiver portion defined by an upper surface of an intermediatewall 14.4 of the base, as may best be seen in FIGURE 4. With a disc 140received on the wall 144, and upon reverse operation of the motor 56-shown On FIGURE 8 a cable 145, extending through the cable sheath 130and connected at one end to the transmission shaft 76 and at an oppositeend" to a driving pinion 146, is rotated. The pinion 146 is in turnmeshed with a firing gear 15% having a plurality of upwardly extendingpe= ripheral tabs 152 which sequentially engage an end of a leaf spring154 mounted at an opposite end on the base 124, thus flexing the springas shown in FIGURE 10 so that when the tab disengages the spring 154,the'spring flips forwardly to drive the lowermost disc 14 outwardlythrough a muzzle opening 156 in the base 124. The head 11%) includes anupwardly extending neck 160 which provides a cover removably telescopedon the magazine 142.

In order to further hold a childs interest in the toy, an attentiongetting device is surmounted on the neck 160, and is illustrated in theform of a flashing eye 162'. The eye is provided with three generallyvertically coplanar sections 164 each in the form of a Varie-Vuechanging color device, as is well known in the trade. These devices 164change apparent color depending on the directionfrom which they areviewed. Briefly,.three devices 164 are eachvertically polarized and inthe preferred embodiment change color between red and blue, and greenand blue, as the eye is viewed from a given location with the head 110moving. Thus, the eye 162 gives the appearance of flashing in differentcolors and searching as the head 110 rotates or as the toy 30'moves.

Noisemaker means for proving an initially loud sound which graduallydiminishes is provided in the illustrated embodiment in the form of apump actuated whistle de-' vice. With particular reference to FIGURES 3,4 and 13, a whistle is formed integrally with the frame 36- andcommunicates with a pump 172 defined'by acylindrical pocket having aflexible diaphragm 176 closing the top of the pocket. A spring typeactuator arm 178 is relatively long to provide prolonged vibration whenset in motion. The spring arm 178 has one end fixedly secured to theframe 36 and an opposite end 1% defining a cam follower riding on amultilobe cam 182 fixedly mounted on one of the wheel shafts 52, as maybest be seen in FIGURE 3. Thus, when this shaft is rotating the actuatorspring 178 is moved upwardly by the cam 182 and then released from thecam lobe so as to flip downwardly, whereupon a depending center portion184 of the spring arm 178 vibrates and repeatedly strikes the diaphragm176 causing air to be intermitently expelled into the whistle 170 withconstantly diminishing force thus providing an initial lound sound whichgradually diminishes.

Manually toperable remote control means for operating the object 30 isprovided in the form of the remote control unit 32 as may best be seenin FIGURES 1 and 14-20. This remote control unit is provided with fivepush-buttons including a center push-button 19% for causing the object30 to move in a forward path, a right turn push-button 192 immediatelyto the right of the center push-button for causing the object to turn tothe right, a left turn pushbutton 194 immediately left of the centerpush-button for causing the object to turn to the left, a searchpush-button 196 outwardly of the left turn push-button 1% for causingthe head 110 to rotate in a searching manner, and a firing push-button193 outwardly from the right turn pushbutton 192 for causing the firingmechanism to fire a disc as 140 from the head 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, as illustrated in the wiring diagram ofFIGURE 20, the remote control pushbuttons are associated with suitableswitch means for starting and stopping, and controliing the direction ofoperation of the two motors 56 and 5'7, thus operating the object 3% aspreviously described. More particularly, the push-buttons areoperatively associated with switch blades 20% and 262 each pivoted attheir centers on a body 2% of the remote control unit 32. The switchblades Ztit) and 2&2 each have crossed contact strips Ztlfia and 2W1),and 202a and 2921?, respectively, the control strips of each blade beinginsulated from each other. The blades are inter-connected by a generallyU-shaped spring 2% received in openings in adjacent centrally locatedends of the switch blades to prevent the blades from being positioned tocause a short circuit, as will become apparent. An appropriate wiringcircuit for the remote control unit 32 and the motors 56 and 57 is shownin FIGURE 20 for supplying power to the motors 56 and 57 from batteries208 contained in a chamber in the remote control unit 32, as may best beseen in FIGURE 14.

The operation of the remote control unit push-buttons is as follows:when forward self-propelled operation of the object is desired thecenter push-button 193 is de- FIGURE 17, so that the left turn motor 56is in operative and the right turn motor 57 is in circuit with thebatteries 208 for forward operation. \Vhen it is desired to rotate thehead 119, the search push-button 1% is depressed, as shown in FIGURE 18,thus reversing the direction of operation of the right turn motor 56 forrotating the pinion 136 and thus rotating the head 11!), as previouslydescribed. Similarly, when it is desired to fire one or more discs 140from the head 114), the firing push-button 198 is depressed, thusdepressing the outer end of the switch blade 202 to reverse thedirection of operation of the left turn motor 56 and thereby actuatingthe firing mechanism as previously described. The number of discs firedis determined by the length of time the firing pushbutton is depressed.

Thus, an amusing toy which may be remotely controlled by a child isprovided. The child may selectively operate the toy by proper actuationof the remote control unit 32. When desired, the child may fire one ormore discs 146 from the toy. In addition to the control featuresprovided for amusing a child and holding the childs interest, theappendages in the form of the legs operate in an unusual manner inrelationship to the speed of the toy to further hold the childsinterest.

To summarize the operatoin of the toy, a child may depress any one ofthe three centrally located push button 1% to move object 30 forward orto turn it to eithe side. By depressing the search push-button 196 thehead is caused to rotate whereupon the eye 162 changes its apparentcolor and appears to be searching the area about the object. Upon thechild depressing the firing pushbutton 198, one or more discs 14% arefired from the head, the number of discs fired depending on the lengthof time the firing push-button is held down.

While this invention has been described with particular reference tocertain features in a particular environment, various changes may beapparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not tobe limited to such features or environment. Various of the features ofthe invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising a body, propelling means operable for moving saidbody along a supporting surface, ap pendage means supported on the bodyand movable rela tive to said body as the latte is propelled along saidsurface, a head mounted on said body and operable to rotate relative tosaid body, and means for selectively firing objects from said toythrough trajectories determined by the position of said head relative tosaid body.

2. A toy comprising a body, means supporting said body and operable formoving said body along a supporting surface, appendage means supportedon the body and movable relative to said body as the latter is propelledalong said surface, a head mounted on sm'd body and operable to rotaterelative to said body, means for selectively firing objects from saidtoy through trajectories determined by the position of said headrelative to said body, and drive means connected with said supportingmeans, appendage means, head and said firing means for operationthereof.

3. A toy comprising a body, drive means carried by said body andoperable for moving said body in any se lected direction across asupporting surface, appendage means carried by the body and including aplurality of legs movable relative thereto, at least one of said legsmoving a vertical distance greate than the movement of another one ofsaid legs, and said legs each moving at a rate slower than thatindicated by the speed of said body for providing a crawling illusion assaid toy moves across said surface, and a head rotatably mounted on saidbody and operable by said drive means to provide a searching effectthrough a complete, circular rotation of the head relative to said body.

4. A toy comprising a body, drive means carried by said body andoperable for moving said body in any selected direction across asupporting surface, appendage means carried by the body and connectedwith said drive means for movement relative to said body at a rateslower than that indicated by the speed of said body for providing acrawling illusion as said toy moves across said surface, a headrotatably mounted on said body and operable by said drive means toprovide a searching effect through rotation of the head relative to saidbody, and firing means carried by said head and connected with saiddrive means for operation thereby to fire objects from the toy.

5. A toy comprising an object including a body, power driven meansoperable for moving said body across a supporting surface, appendagemeans movably supported on said body and operable by said powe drivenmeans to provide a crawling illusion, said appendage means including aplurality of legs movable relative to said body with at least one ofsaid legs moving a vertical distance greater than the movement ofanother of said legs, a head rotatably supported on said body forcomplete, circular movement about a generally vertical axis, and meanson said head operable to provide the illusion of searching about theobject as said head rotates.

6. A toy comprising an object including a body, power driven meansoperable for moving said body across a supporting surface, appendagemeans movably supported on said body and operable by said power drivenmeans to provide a crawling illusion, a head rotatably supported on saidbody and connected with said power driven means for movement about agenerally vertical axis, means on said head operable to provide theillusion of searching about the object as said head rotates, and firingmeans carried by said head and connected with said driven means foroperation thereby to fire objects through different trajectoriesdetermined by the position of said head relative to said body.

7. A toy comprising an object including a body, propelling means carriedby said body and operable for moving said body at a predetermined speedand in a selected direction across a supporting surface, appendage meansmovably mounted no said body for providing a crawling illusion as saidobject moves across said surface, said appendage means including twosets of legs, one set on each side of said body, appendage actuatingmeans within said body and connected with said propelling means forraising and lowering said sets of legs, a head rotatably mounted on saidbody and operable for movement about a generally upright axis and havinga flashing eye giving the illusion of searching about the object as saidhead moves, and firing means on said head and operable for firingprojectiles to sweep the area about said object.

8. A toy comprising an object including a body, a plurality of wheelsmounted in supporting relation to said body, propelling means connectedto said wheels and operable for moving said body at a predeterminedspeed and in a selected direction across a supporting surface, appendagemeans movably mounted on said body for providing a crawling illusion assaid object moves across said surface, said appendage means includingtwo sets of legs, one set on each side of said body, appendage actuatingmeans within said body and connected with said legs and said propellingmeans for raising and lowering said sets of legs, a head rotatablymounted on said body and connected with said propelling means for drivenmovement about agenerally'upright axis, firing means on said headconnected with said propelling means and operable for firing projectilesto sweep the area about said object, noisemaker means operably connectedwith said propelling means for providing an appropriate sound, andremote control means for selectively operating said propelling means,for causing rotation of said head, for operating said noisemaker, andfor operating said firing means.

9; A toy comprising a mechanical spider-like object including a squatbody, propelling means carried by said toy and operable for moving saidtoy in any selected direction, appendage means movably mounted on saidbody and operative at a rate slower than that indicated by thetravelling speed of said body for providing a crawling illusion as saidtoy moves across said surface, said appendage means including two setsof legs, one set on each side of said body, appendage actuating meanswithin said body operable for raising and lowering said sets of legs ina 10. A toy comprising, a mechanical spider-like object.

including a squat, inverted dish-shaped body, propelling means includingwheels supporting said body and operable for moving said body in anyselected path across a supporting surface, said wheels being directed inpathsconverging forwardly of said body, appendage means movably mountedon said body and connected with said propelling means for movementthereby at a rate slower than that indicated by the travelling speed ofsaid body for providing a crawling illusion as said object moves acrosssaid surface, a head mounted on said body and connected with saidpropelling means for pivotal movement about a generally upright axis,said head having an upwardly extending neck and a multi-coloredpolarized eye surface giving the illusion of searching about said objectand changing apparent colors as said head moves, and firing meansfixedly oriented on said head and connected with said propelling meansfor firing disc-like projectiles so that said projectiles sweep the areaabout said object as said head moves, and manually operable remotecontrol means for selectively operating said propelling means and forcontrolling the operation of said head and said. firing means.

11. A toy comprising a mechanical spider-like object including a squat,inverted dish-shaped body having opposite sides, propelling meansincluding wheels supporting said body and operable for moving said bodythrough any selected path across a supporting surface, appendage meansmovably mounted on said body and operative at a rate slower than thatindicated by the speed of travel of said body for providing a crawlingillusion as said object moves across said surface, said appendage meansincluding at least two sets of legs, one set on either side of saidbody, and leg actuating means connected with said propelling means andoperable responsive to operation of said propelling means for raisingand lowering said sets of legs and for raising at least some of the legsof each set different distances, 2. head mounted on said body andoperable for pivotal movement about a generally upright axis and fortilting movement relative to said axis, and firing means fixedlyoriented on said head and connected with said propelling means forfiring disc-like projectiles so that said projectiles sweep the areaabout said object as said head moves, and noisemaker means operable forproviding an initially loud sound which gradually decays, and manuallyoperable remote control means for selectively operating said propellingmeans, rotating said head and for operating said firing means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,494,681 1/50Wisoi'f 46-l50 X 2,896,367 7/59 Glass et al. 46244 X 3,050,900 8/62Glass et al. 4698 X 3,071,894 1/63 Frye 46191 X 3,103,762 9/63 Glass etal 4624-7 X LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

1. A TOY COMPRISING A BODY, PROPELLING MEANS OPERABLE FOR MOVING SAIDBODY ALONG A SUPPORTING SURFACE, APPENDAGE MEANS SUPPORTED ON THE BODYAND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID BODY AS THE LATTER IS PROPELLED ALONG SAIDSURFACE, A HEAD MOUNTED ON SAID BODY AND OPERABLE TO ROTATE RELATIVE TOSAID BODY, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY FIRING OB-